Victim of fatal accident identified, SR 190 reopens in Big Cottonwood Canyon

Aug 15, 2022, 10:31 AM | Updated: 3:23 pm

Emergency vehicles on the scene in Big Cottonwood Canyon after a fatal rollover. (Mark Wetzel/KSL5 TV)

(Mark Wetzel/KSL5 TV)

Digital Content Producer

SALT LAKE CITY — One woman was killed and multiple others were injured, including a 4-year-old child, after an empty dump truck crashed into a passenger vehicle Monday morning on SR 190 in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

The woman who died has been identified as Jessica Keetch Minnesota, age 36, of West Jordan.

By 3 p.m. on Monday afternoon, police reported that SR 190 had been reopened. It was closed for much of the morning as the crash scene was investigated.

Unified Police spokeswoman Melody Cutler said the truck had lost its brakes. The driver was near the S-curve of SR-190, and decided to crash his vehicle into the side of the mountain in order to stop.

But when he crossed into oncoming traffic in an attempt to hit the mountain, another car was traveling in the opposite direction on SR 190. The passenger vehicle crashed into the truck, and the truck overturned on it’s side.

Cutler said a four year old was life-flighted to Primary Children’s Hospital in extremely critical condition. A 2 year old in serious condition was taken to a hospital by ground transportation. Another adult in her late 30s was also taken to a hospital by ground transportation.

The driver of the truck also received serious injuries, Cutler said. There was no obvious sign of impairment, she said.

It is not known whether the people in the car are related, or how far the dump truck traveled down SR 190 without brakes. Crash scene investigators remain on the scene.

Our previous reporting follows:

SALT LAKE CITY — The road in Big Cottonwood Canyon is closed to all traffic after a fatal accident earlier Monday morning. Unified Police are turning uphill traffic around at the Storm Mountain picnic area.

🚧#RoadClosureUpdate🚧
#SR190 remains closed to all traffic due to the crash @ Storm Mountain (MP 4.2). Estimated road opening time from @updsl is 1:30PM. Please avoid the area if possible & plan your travels accordingly. Thanks for your patience!@UDOTTRAFFIC @UDOTRegionTwo pic.twitter.com/vxpGusPpmy

— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) August 15, 2022

Intermittent closures began after a dump truck rolled over in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Later, via Twitter, Unified Police reported that this was a fatal accident.

The Utah Department of Transportation asks drivers to avoid the area if possible.

#CrashAlert ⚠️ 👋 #SR190 travelers! There a crash at Storm Mountain (MP 4.2). @updsl is on the scene, and advises to avoid the area if possible. Expect delays & intermittent closures in this area while crews work to clear the crash. No estimated time for clearing. @UDOTTRAFFIC

— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) August 15, 2022